Subclavian steal syndrome. A 12-year experience.

Over a 12-year period, 43 operations were performed on 40 patients for correction of the subclavian steal syndrome. Eleven of these patients also underwent endarterectomy for coexisting carotid artery disease. There were 16 transthoracic procedures and 27 transcervical procedures. Graft failure in two patients was corrected by a second operation. There was one early death and one late death. The remaining 38 patients have been carefully studied for up to 12 years, with an average follow-up period of 60 months. These 38 patients have remained asymptomatic and their revascularization procedures have remained functional, as determined by blood pressure determinations in the involved extremity and, in some cases, by arteriography.